Role of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 in the activation of IgM secretion by CD40 and CD120b

TNFR-associated factors (TRAFs) participate in the signaling of many TNFR family members, including CD40, CD120a (TNFR1), and CD120b (TNFR2). Previously, we found that a dominant-negative TRAF2 molecule inhibits CD40-mediated Ab secretion by the mouse B cell line CH12.LX. However, disruption of the TRAF2 binding site in the cytoplasmic domain of CD40 does not diminish the ability of CD40 to stimulate Ab secretion, nor is this mutation able to circumvent the inhibition of Ab secretion by dominant-negative TRAF2. Here we demonstrate that CD40-induced TNF stimulates IgM production through CD120b and that CD120b signaling is required for optimal CD40-induced IgM secretion. Furthermore, although both CD40 and CD120b can bind TRAF2, TRAF2-dependent CD40 signals cannot substitute for TRAF2-dependent CD120b signals in the activation of IgM secretion. Our results indicate a potentially important role for CD120b in the activation of IgM secretion and that TRAF2 is used by CD40 and CD120b in distinct ways.